Dorset's harbour 'boom' over following Covid restrictions
Weymouth, West Bay and Lyme Regis have seen activity levels drop
The boom for Dorset harbours, which followed the ending of Covid restrictions, is now over.
All three local harbours - Weymouth, West Bay and Lyme Regis - saw a surge in activity in the 2022 and 2023 seasons, but that has since declined as many people return to overseas holidays.
The change has resulted in lower visitor numbers although all of the Dorset harbours are performing better than most in the South West.
Dorset’s harbours consultative committee heard on Wednesday that income at the two smaller harbours had fluctuated although Weymouth harbour continued to perform well with few vacancies for marina spaces and moorings.
Weymouth harbour users consultative committee representative Tim Day told councillors that the change in habits meant that commercial boat operators in the harbour had seen a one-third fall in trade this year, with the ‘season’ now tied more closely to school holidays.
“It seems the post covid boom has dissipated and people are now jumping on aeroplanes and going elsewhere,” he said, adding that harbour activity had been helped by a recent angling contest which had involved 15 charter boats and is likely to be repeated next year.
Harbours manager Ed Carter said that the peak in “staycation holidays” after Covid was reflected across the South West region and the South and Solent area.
He said with that the changes had come a decline in slipway use and launches for jet skis although the use of Weymouth by commercial vessels remained strong with waiting lists for larger boats.
He said that despite some falls in income the revenue from visiting vessels to Weymouth was 8 per cent up on the year, with an increase in bridge lifts although fewer vessels had passed through.
The committee backed a request for an overall increase of 2.5% in fees and charges at all three harbours – although there will be some exceptions, including a 10% hike in parking fees commercial fishermen at West Bay, to bring the costs in line with Lyme Regis and other harbours.
In Weymouth, a passenger fee for visiting vessels will rise from £1.10 to £4 per person – bringing it in line with other places.